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UPSC CSE Prelims 2021 — Environment Questions with Answers
All 18 Environment previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Prelims 2021, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Environment as a timed test →- Q1.Environment
Consider the following statements: 1. ‘Right to the City’ is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard. 2. ‘Right to the City’ gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city. 3. ‘Right to the City’ means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 only
- b)3 only
- c)1 and 2
- d)2 and 3
- Q2.Environment
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant. 2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. 3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions. 4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1 and 3
- b)1, 2 and 4
- c)4 only
- d)2 and 3
- Q3.Environment
In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: 1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme. 2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France. 3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q4.Environment
Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- a)Congress grass
- b)Elephant grass
- c)Lemongrass
- d)Nut grass
- Q5.Environment
Consider the following kinds of organisms: 1. Copepods 2. Cyanobacteria 3. Diatoms 4. Foraminifera Which of the above are primary producers in the food chains of oceans?
- a)1 and 2
- b)2 and 3
- c)3 and 4
- d)1 and 4
- Q6.Environment
Consider the following animals: 1. Hedgehog 2. Marmot 3. Pangolin To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?
- a)1 and 2
- b)2 only
- c)3 only
- d)1 and 3
- Q7.Environment
With reference to the New York Declaration on Forests, which of the following statements are correct? 1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014. 2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests. 3. It is a legally binding international declaration. 4. India was one of the signatories at its inception. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1, 2 and 4
- b)1, 3 and 5
- c)3 and 4
- d)2 and 5
- Q8.Environment
Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following? 1. Brakes of motor vehicles 2. Engines of motor vehicles 3. Microwave stoves within homes 4. Power plants 5. Telephone lines Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1, 2, 3 and 5 only
- b)1, 2 and 4 only
- c)3, 4 and 5 only
- d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Q9.Environment
Which one of the following is a filter feeder?
- a)Catfish
- b)Octopus
- c)Oyster
- d)Pelican
- Q10.Environment
In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?
- a)Carbon cycle
- b)Nitrogen cycle
- c)Phosphorus cycle
- d)Sulphur cycle
- Q11.Environment
Which of the following are detritivores? 1. Earthworms 2. Jellyfish 3. Millipedes 4. Seahorses 5. Woodlice Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1, 2 and 4 only
- b)2, 3, 4 and 5 only
- c)1, 3 and 5 only
- d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Q12.Environment
The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for
- a)Assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
- b)Enabling commercial farming entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading
- c)Enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries
- d)Assessing the overall carbon footprint caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time
- Q13.Environment
Which of the following have species that can establish a symbiotic relationship with other organisms? 1. Cnidarians 2. Fungi 3. Protozoa Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q14.Environment
‘R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of
- a)Environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry
- b)Ecological management of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention
- c)Sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded lands
- d)‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ in the exploitation of natural resources
- Q15.Environment
Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants? 1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment. 2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment. 3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q16.Environment
With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements: 1. It is a product of oil refineries. 2. Some industries use it to generate power. 3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q17.Environment
What is blue carbon?
- a)Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
- b)Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils
- c)Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas
- d)Carbon present in the atmosphere
- Q18.Environment
In nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mushroom Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a)1 and 4 only
- b)2 only
- c)2 and 3
- d)1, 3 and 4
UPSC CSE Prelims 2021 — other subjects
Environment — other years
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